2008 Beijing

TotalShares

Duration:August 8-August 24

Nations Participating:204 NOC's

Events:302

Competing Athletes:10,904 (6,295 men, 4,609 women)

Canadian Competitors:334 (186 men, 146 women)

Games of the XXIX Olympiad

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad were China’s first as Olympic Games host and they featured a stunning Opening Ceremony and venues of unique, awe-inspiring design. They were also very successful for Canada.

Flag bearer Adam van Koeverden, a world and Olympic champion kayaker, led a Canadian Olympic Team of 334 athletes into one of the most unique Olympic Games in recent history. The goal, put forth by the COC, was for the Canadian Olympic Team to place in the top 16 countries by total medals. Thanks to a powerful surge in the second half of the Games, that mark was not only met but surpassed.

The Canadian Olympic Team finished 13th overall on the strength of 19 medals – three gold, nine silver and seven bronze. This surpasses the total from the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, making it the 2nd best non-boycotted Games ever (Canada won 22 medals in Atlanta in 1996). It marks a distinct improvement from 19th place (12 medals) in Athens four years ago.

Olympic Oath (athletes): Yining Zhang (table tennis)

Olympic Oath (officials): Liping Huang (gymnastics)

Olympic Oath (coaches): None

Lighting Olympic Cauldron: Ning Li

Official Opening: The President of the Peoples Republic of China, Jintao Hu.